How much of an issue is a detached garage?

Found a house I love, I've loved it for a while but, wrote it off b/c I REALLY wanted an attached garage - its what I'm used to and I'm just thinking of what a PIA it will be w/o one. But, I compare every house tto this one and nothing measures up. Thing is, I am settling AND this house is not cheap.

So for my question - would you pay $$$ for a house you LOVED inside and out BUT it had a detached garage that was not that close to the house. THe driveway however goes right up to the house if that matters?

I know its a trade-off and there will always be SOMETHING. So, what I'm wondering is - is this something I can live with?

Message edited 7/21/2010 12:34:46 PM.

Re: How much of an issue is a detached garage?

I grew up in a house with an attached garage but when I went to school I lived with my grandparents who had a detached garage- to be honest- either way was fine

the most important thing I would think is having the storage, and being able to keep your car out of the elements- so if you feel like this is the house, do it

good luck!

Re: How much of an issue is a detached garage?

I've always lived in houses with detached (not that my car was ever in it). DH came from a house with an attached garage, and says when we buy attached is a must.
His main point being that the purpose of a garage (in the winter at least) is to stay warm. But if it's detached you have to go out into the cold/snow anyway.

Re: How much of an issue is a detached garage?

I have that, a detached 2 car garage. Funny, my next home I really want an attached garage. But if the home were right, it would not stop me from buying a detached again, kwim?

Re: How much of an issue is a detached garage?

I think its personal opinion but for me, if I loved a house the garage situation would not bother me.

I think because you said the driveway is nearby I like the idea! Thinking about it, our cars are never going to be in our garage. It is more for storage anyway. So the attached/detached would not bother me.

Re: How much of an issue is a detached garage?

i don't know many people who actually park their cars in the garage. so it wouldn't bother me so much.

Re: How much of an issue is a detached garage?

For me, that was a dealbreaker. With a baby, an attached garage to me is a must. My garage now is on the first floor -- and I walk right into the lobby of my building. When the weather is sh!tty, I will go somewhere like the mall or whatever, when we aren't "exposed" to the elements.

Other than that-- for storage issues, etc. When you need somehting-- it's "in" the house...

BUT, if you LOVEd a house-- then, maybe you can live with it. It's really a personal preference.

Re: How much of an issue is a detached garage?

At our old house we had a detached garage, and I thought it was a pain. But now we have an attached garage but have so much crap in it that we park in the driveway anyway, so it may as well be a detached garage! So in the end, I realized either is ok for me.

Re: How much of an issue is a detached garage?

We looked at two houses - one had an attached garage and the other had a detached. We made a list of pros and cons and one con was the detached garage which was set back from the house. This was NOT a deal-breaker for us, but it was definitely a BIG negative.

The reason I wanted a garage was to store our cars and to not have to go out into the elements when bringing in groceries, etc. We do store our cars in the garage, so it is very useful to have it attached.